The door opens and my mom enters instead of Lily. "Good morning!" She greets cheerily. "How are you feeling? What about Flame? Is there any change in her after the ritual?...""Good morning Mom..." I gently cut her short before she asks another question. "I'm fine. All is well with my wolf. I can feel her breathing as she sleeps. Everything is dandy." I lied. Everything is not dandy. My wolf might be malfunctioning, driving me to dream about my mate and masturbation but I can never tell her that. My dad might be worried about it but my mom? She would be ecstatic and tell me to return to my mate.She smiles"I'm glad to hear that... Apex Academy called to invite you to their interview by ten this morning. They also send in their forms."That's surprising."How am I getting an interview invitation!? I thought we decided we would call them today?""Influential my dear daughter. After you left with Lily yesterday night, I showed your daddy the two schools you chose and he sent it to tha
Thor's POVI'm delirious with joy this morning. I owed everything to Eric and his new abilities that we just discovered. If not for him, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to be near my mate let alone touching and spending a whole night with her. Even though I'm happy right now, I'm not satisfied with just one night with her. I want more. I want the whole of her. I want us to go back to how we were before Draco happened. I miss her terribly and want her at home with me every day and every night. One of the things she accused me of is being controlling. I never accepted that to be true about me until I found myself unconsciously adding strict dress codes to my criteria of good schools to select for her. I don't know what gave me the idea that having control over what she wears to school would stop the likes of Lucas and Mike from finding her attractive when I know she would look stunning even if she's wearing a potato sack.Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! It was at that point that I reali
Ash's POV"Sif!" My mom exclaims in disapproval after I end the call with Thor. "I know you're angry with him but decisions shouldn't be made when your emotions are high. Even I, who doesn't have a special mate bond with your father, know how unpleasant it was when I left him in the past.My eyes widen with surprise and she nods."Yes. During those days when no one believed me and I was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. I left your father and refused when he begged me to come back. I gave in when I found out life was more hellish without him. I realized we are stronger staying together and working out our problems than being apart... I hope you know what you're doing. Let me go inform your father you're ready to leave." She says and walks away.‘Life was more hellish without him. We're stronger staying together and working out our problems than being apart.’ I repeat in my mind and look at the backpack she just handed to me.‘I can't take this with me.’ I think and return upstai
My dad told me it would take us about forty-five minutes to arrive at Apex Academy. So while he busies himself with work on his laptop, I search the net for information about the school. Who knows which areas the questions they're going to ask at the interview would come from?I picked three schools out of the eleven brochures my dad's family member provided us with, and out of these three, isn't it great that Apex Academy, which happens to be my favorite, is the first interview I'm attending? When my Dad informed me the other two interviews were scheduled after each other with one-day intervals in between, I was happy because it almost felt as if I was consulted and the dates for the interviews were picked with my convenience in mind.'Thank god I picked the right school.' I think and smile to myself as I read through the good testimonies parents and students wrote about the school. I open the school website to read further and my eyes widen at the first information that catches my
His facial expression turns sad and regretful then. "She never cheated but I did, with a human I met on a business trip..." The moment I heard what he said, anger and jealousy surges up within me on behalf of my mom. Thinking in my mind,'Of course, he was the first to cheat. He's a man after all. How dare he cheat on her after all she went through!?'I however quickly push my feelings aside when I remember, despite whatever injustice I might be thinking she suffered, they're still living together happily now. Why am I angry on behalf of someone who had gotten over the injustice she suffered in the past and is now living a happy life?I know I didn't recover my composure fast enough when he chuckled. "Sentiment aside. Technically, I didn't cheat on your mother. According to human law, I can be with another after just one year of separation.""Okay..." I reluctantly say, trying not to look like I'm forced to swallow a slice of lemon."Despite that, you should know I didn't cheat on
I enter the room I was directed to for the interview and meet four stone-faced interviewers. Two males and two females. I can tell from their smell that two of them are werewolves while the other two are humans. Apex Academy is a school for both werewolves and humans after all."It's great to finally have you show up, Miss Reynolds or would you rather we address you as Luna Quinn?" The she-wolf amongst them glares and fires at me with a voice that drips sarcasm.Her attitude takes me by surprise. "Miss Reynolds would be fine," I reply cooly, fighting the urge to look at my watch and point out the fact that I'm not late. I'm twenty minutes earlier than the scheduled time.What's her problem and what's with the sarcasm anyway? I come for an interview doesn't mean she should treat me with disdain.She continues in her stern voice. "I'm Miss Pennyworth. For the past twenty years that I've been working in this great school, Apex Academy has only admitted students at the beginning of every
"Miss Reynolds... Miss Reynolds..." I heard a voice calling me from afar. My mind refocuses to see the woman who thinks she likes me looking at me somewhat pitifully like she already knows what ails me. What the hell! My mind traveled away from the interview room again. Focus, Ash! Focus!"We are done deliberating..." She says. Done deliberating!? Surely, my mind couldn't have traveled for that long and that far..."Meet the secretary outside. She will show you where you'll write the test. As the principal made you understand earlier, admission is solely given on merits here at Apex Academy. We understand you don't need us to get admission into the school but our acceptance and respect of you would depend on your score in the test. Any score less than eighty percent on each test will simply mean you're not worthy to be here even if you're given admission against our will. So good luck."I shrug."Thank you," I say before walking out of the room.The moment I step out, the middle-a
Thor's POV "Ugh..."I growl and close my eyes, leaning back in the executive chair as her last words play on repeat in my mind.‘I don't want to talk about the other women you fucked and I sure don't want to talk about your vampire bitch! I meant it when I said, twelve weeks. Maybe I'll be ready to talk to you then but certainly not now so please don't call me anymore! Please!’I stand up from the chair and start pacing around the room, fighting my frustration and the urge to smash and destroy something. After a while, I stop pacing and then squat when another of her painful statements resounds in my mind,‘I don't need your help with providing me with protection and I don't want to be reminded of your existence every step I take.’"Ugh... Fucking hell!" I growl and swear loudly in frustration. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I hurt you! I regret lying to you! What do I have to do to make you see that I'm sorry? What do I have to do to make you forgive me, dammit!"I stand up and then go to si
"The Council Chairman!" I exclaim with surprise when I see a familiar white-haired old man walk out from beside the villa and towards the aisle. "The Council Chairman is the officiant!?"He grins"Surprise!" He says with a flourish "Now walk. And remember, your best man is closely behind."I happily smile and nod at our guests as I walk behind the old man hobbling on his walking stick.I can't believe that the Council Chairman himself is going to officiate our wedding!? He's already so old but still makes the time. Today sure is full of pleasant surprises. He arrives at the front and turns to face the guests."Council Chairman, what an honor this is," I say as I arrive before him, my back to the guests.He smiles "Giving the opportunity to join the Chosen ones of House War-Cloud and House Howell in matrimony is a great honor that I dare not pass to another."I nod and he also nods backEveryone arrive at the front and stand at their respective places as we had rehearsed. The moment
I look at my Patek Philippe Nautilus watch before getting up to start dressing up. Just as I put on my tuxedo jacket, someone knocks on my door."Come in," Eric answers Timothy enters, already dressed for the occasion."The guests have arrived. The ceremony will begin soon." He saysI nod and reply,"We're ready. We'll be out soon." He nods and leavesEric finishes buttoning his tux before turning to me. He looks at me critically as he brushes something off my satin lapel and straightens my bowtie."Hmm..." He says satisfactorily before taking a step back. "Hair– on point. Skin– flawless. Tux– immaculate. Shoes– nice pair, they really compliment your outfit. All in all, you look good, man. Your bride will fall in love with you all over again."I smile at his compliment."What about the ring? Do you have it?" I ask to be sure he hasn't forgotten."I have it right here." He replies with a nod, patting on the area it is resting inside his tux. I exhale and nod"Then shall we?" He
Instead of going back to sleep like I tell him, he groans and slumps back into bed."Ugh!... C'mon, don't be a bitch about this."I scoff, looking at him in disbelief."Who's the bitch here? You're obviously tired and need to rest. I'm allowing you to do that but you can't see my good intentions." I guess he thinks I was being sarcastic when I apologized for disturbing his sleep.He sighs and gets out of bed then go to the wet bar. There, he gets a bottle of water and gulps it down in one go. "Now I'm awake..." He says before asking me, "Water?""Yeah, sure," I replyHe hands me the water before going to sit on the sofa."Alright, tell me about your anxiety attack.""I can't sleep. I thought I mentioned that earlier." ''Why can't you sleep?""How the hell am I supposed to know? I just can't!" I know I sounded defensive right now. That's because I know this conversation would end up with him poking fun at me."I wouldn't have found sleep difficult if I was at Alpha's mansion. My m
Two weeks laterThor's POV 1:10 am! I glare in disbelief at the digital clock on my bedside drawer as if it's its fault that time chooses to be moving at a snail's pace today of all days. It was 12:49 the last time I checked, I can't believe that only nineteen minutes had gone by since then."Ugh!" I growl and slump back in bed as I recall all the advice I got yesterday from all the females around me. (that did not include my mate, mind you. I haven't spoken to her in two days because of some Howell's wedding tradition)"You should go to bed early, Alpha," Lily said as they were about to leave for Night Howlers Pack. (They are Ash's maids and matron of honor.)"Yes, you should." Carla chipped in, nodding, before I could ask Lily why she wanted me to go to bed early. "Poor sleep can lead to breakouts, you know?" "Breakouts?" I asked, looking at both of them with interest."Yes, breakout. Believe me, Alpha, you don't want that..." Clarita replied, looking appalled as she shook her he
I step out of the lobby's revolving door and frantically look around me. I don't see him anywhere but his essence is stronger. He's definitely here."Ma'am..." A voice questioningly calls and I turn around to see Jeremy, one of my security details that comes from my Dad. I wonder where he sprang from? "Have you seen the Alpha– I mean my mate?" I say, handing him my backpack."No, ma'am, I haven't." He replies, looking in the parking lot's direction."Yeah, maybe he's just arriving," I say and hurry towards the place. When the parking lot becomes visible, I smile when I see him leaning on his car reading a book. Immediately, he turned in my direction and grinned as if he knew I was coming. I know it's because he smells my essence.I run, speedily closing the gap between us, and then jump into his arms, tightly wrapping myself around him like a koala bear hugging a tree."Oh, hi, monkey." He says, chuckling.I laugh, slightly pulling away from him "Hello, monkey's husband," I say. "
Twelve weeks later"Prom is more than a dance, Miss Reynolds. It is also used to celebrate and honor students who excel in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities..." Mrs Jones, my homeroom teacher, lectures me. "Even though you're only spending this term with us, your excellent performance has made you popular among the teachers. You're also loved by not just your peers but also your juniors. Even though you're a new student, they voted for you to be on the prom court, and with what I've been hearing on the grapevine about you, I'm sure they would vote for you to be this year's Prom Queen. Now, won't they be disappointed if they find out you don't want to be part of the event? It would be a shame if..."'Would it? Aren't you over-exaggerating?' I think as I continue to listen to her drone on and on. Contrary to what she's been saying. As far as I know and can see, no one truly cares about anyone amongst my peers in Apex Academy. Most of them are rich, pompous, opportu
"You didn't have your wolf and you weren't aware of my existence. I just recently figured it out myself. That was why I said earlier that a lot of things about our bond recently became clear to me. Even though I was made aware of our mate bond, I didn't know it was such a big deal. Uncle Elias also didn't see it as such; otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten me a girl on my birthday. Only The Seer knew. Knowing he's one of our number one fans, I guessed he also didn't make a big deal out of me being with other women before I met you because he knew the connection between us was not complete. You were too young. You were six years old when I was sixteen..." It suddenly feels as if I've been slapped in the face with the difference in our age. Damnit! Why didn't I think about that before!? Now that he called my attention to it, I feel I've been insensitive. To think I was eight years old when he was eighteen! An eight-year-old child is too young to shift to their wolves and has no busines
"About us..." He replies, and my body stiffens. "About what happened before you left for Hill-backside." "But I thought everything was fine now. We are fine now so why do we still need to discuss that?" I say and want to stand up, but from his lap, he prevents me, holding me in place. "Please..." He says, looking at me soulfully I exhale "I just don't see any reason why we should talk about that. We're fine now, aren't we?... I love you. You love me. Nothing else should matter except that." I say, not knowing if I should confess to him my real reason for not wanting to discuss that matter. Should I tell him I'm afraid to hear what he wants to say? I'm afraid I might not be able to bear it if he tells me how he manipulated his way around our mate bond? Should I let him know I would rather pretend Delilah never happened than risk hearing about her and not be able to forgive him out of jealousy. How would I let him know that I just want to forget the bad memories. I don't want to di
Even though it bothers me, I'm not really surprised when I return from the bathroom to see Thor in his nightwear, sitting on the sofa far away from the bed. At least now I know without doubt that something is indeed bothering him.He stands when he becomes aware of my presence."Can we have a few words?" He asks seriously and my heart thumps again.I nod. Few words about what? What could be bothering him this much? I wonder as I walk towards him. He doesn't need to say another word before I know what he's about to discuss is very serious. It's written all over his face. "I sensed something was bothering you. What do you want to talk about?" Even though I asked, I dread his reply and hurriedly add"Don't tell me! I don't want to know...""You don't!" He exclaims. "But we really need to...""Okay– but please not right now!..." I plead. "I can tell from your expression that what you want to talk about is serious and I... I don't want to talk about anything serious right now, Thor! Tod